Important notice

COVID-19: Answers to your questions

Certain services are available by appointment only at our Montréal and Québec reception desks. No one without an appointment will be seen. For a list of the services offered by appointment, or if you have any questions, refer to the webpage Questions and answers about our services during the pandemic.

Gouvernement du Québec
Régie de l’assurance maladie

Turning 18

If you are registered with the Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan, your children continue benefiting from your prescription drug coverage until they turn 18. At that time, depending on the circumstances, you may have to contact us to extend their coverage.

Coverage extended after the 18th birthday

Your children continue to benefit from your prescription drug coverage upon turning 18 if they are pursuing full-time studies or have a functional impairment. In both cases, certain conditions apply.

If you are registered with the Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan, you must call us to extend your children’s coverage when turn 18. Otherwise, they will automatically be registered as an adult. If you are covered under a private plan, check with your insurer whether your children’s coverage may be extended once they turn 18.

Conditions for extending a child’s coverage

Here are the conditions for extending your children’s coverage after their 18th birthday.

Students age 18 to 25 who are full-time students at the secondary, college or university level

Requirements:

  • Not have a spouse
  • Be living with their parents or tutor
  • Not have access to a private plan through a student job

Person age 18 or over with a functional impairment

Requirements:

Proof of school attendance

We may sometimes request proof of school attendance in order to check for full-time student status. This proof must be issued by a secondary-, college- or university-level educational institution. In addition, it must indicate the student’s name, specify the period of studies and confirm that the studies are full time.

End of parent coverage

Your children may benefit from your public plan coverage up to their 26th birthday. After this time, they are automatically deregistered. But even before turning 26, they become ineligible if they cease to fulfil any of the conditions for extending coverage, even if temporarily. If this is the case, they will have to call to notify us.

Registration with a private or public plan

Everyone who has taken up residence in Québec permanently must be covered, at all times, by a prescription drug insurance plan. Your child age 18 or over who does not meet the conditions for extending coverage must take out insurance that covers prescription drugs.

Depending on their situation, your children have to verify what type of plan they need and what steps to take, if applicable.

CHECK WHETHER YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE PUBLIC PRESCRIPTION DRUG INSURANCE PLAN

Access to a private plan through a student job

When persons are eligible for a private plan, they must join it. Your children between ages 18 and 25 cannot benefit from your public plan coverage if a private plan is available through their employment. In this case, you have to notify us so that we may terminate their registration with the public plan.

If your child’s situation changes

In some cases, if the situation of a child changes, he or she may no longer be able to benefit from your public plan coverage. If this is the case, contact us.

For instance, if they:

  • are no longer a student
  • have a new spouse
  • find a new job
  • join a professional order